If you are burdened by credit card debt and want debt relief, it can be difficult to find advice and help you can trust.  All around us there is contradicting advice and information, promises that sound too good to be true and, unfortunately, many people being ripped off by companies looking to scam unsuspecting customers.  If you want to reduce your credit card debt and become debt free, here is how to do it without getting ripped off.

Do You Need Debt Help?

The first thing you should do is determine if you need outside help, or if you can handle your debt on your own.  How can you figure this out?  You need to track your spending.  

Most people have no idea where there money goes every month, and most of us do not want to go through the hassle of writing down every single dollar we spend.  One easy way to do this is to carry around a small notepad and just write everything as you go.

For us lazy people, there are even easier ways to track spending.  Personal finance software can be helpful for a lot of people, but it does cost money!  If you use your debit or credit card for most purchases rather than cash, a free resource such as mint.com can help you automatically track your spending by linking up to your bank account.  Be sure to include things your charge to credit cards or pay in cash, too.

Once you figure out where your money goes, subtract all of those expenses from your monthly net income.  Net income means what you actually get paid, after all taxes and deductions are taken out.

If you are left with $200 or less, you may need some help with your debt, especially if the amount of credit card debt is large and/or has high interest rates.  If you have extra cash and can afford to make much more than minimum payments on your debt, then you probably have the means to pay it off on your own.

Whether you need help or you just want to pay it off on your own, a legitimate accredited non profit credit counselor can help you come up with a plan to get out of debt.  

Lower Interest, Reduce Debt Quickly

The credit counselor may also recommend a debt management plan if you need some help paying off your debt. This plan can help you get lower interest, lower payments, and help you pay off your debt much, much faster.

When getting help with your debt, do not fall into the trap of companies promising things that sound too good to be true. For example, many debt settlement companies promise to get you out of debt for 50 or 60 percent of what you owe. However, these companies charge enormous fees and leave most consumers in an even worse postion.